Madly
---------------
Before you kissed me only winds of heaven
Had kissed me, and the tenderness of rain-
Now you have come, how can I care for kisses
Like theirs again?
…
I am my love's and he is mine forever,
Sealed with a seal and safe forevermore-
Think you that I could a beggar enter
Where a king stood before?
Sara Teasdale
Chapter Seven
Colorado Springs, Clinic
The next day, Sully finally got to do some minor craftsman's work in Michaela's clinic he couldn't have tended to for a rather long time. Because of his work as a land surveyor for the government he hadn't that often been to town lately and therefore hadn't been able to provide those little services. Right now, he was about to fix a loose board on the wall, while his pretty wife used the time of no patients to thoroughly wipe out the medicine cabinet. She was so sunken into her mind, thinking up a new arrangement system for her bottles and glasses that she didn't realize that the former monotonous hammering next to her had suddenly stopped.
Therefore, she almost jumped out of her skin when two strong arms suddenly twined themselves around her middle and the matching large hands laid themselves down on her belly and stroked her there. Immediately calmed, because the gesture was much too familiar to her, she sank back and leant into him, searching the protection his warm, heavy body could provide.
Sully let his head sink onto Michaela's shoulder and expelled a sigh of perfect contentment. For a long time both simply stood there in silence as they didn't need to talk loudly to communicate with each other.
However, a loud, hectic pushing of the door suddenly interrupted this amicable silence. At the same time the pair turned their heads a little irritated in order to see who the intruder was.
Once again it was Hank who'd unannounced and excitedly burst into the clinic. Michaela took a small step out of Sully's embrace as Hank already started. "Sorry ta bother! But Michaela, do ya have a moment's time?"
"Of course, Hank," Michaela answered with an examining look at Hank's unscathed body. "You don't appear injured. May Sully stay?"
With a short nod the bartender passed Michaela a folded piece of paper. "I jus' got this. Read it!"
Indignantly, Michaela flew over the text of the telegram as Sully looked at it over her shoulder.
Charlie shot - Deeply wounded - You better say goodbye - Lucy
Surprised, Sully and Michaela briefly glanced at each other. Who on earth was that Charlie fellow?
Hank read the questions on their faces and agitatedly explained. "Charlie's an old friend o' mine. Livin' in Manitou... That damned schnook of a doctor... Sorry, Michaela," Hank excused himself on Michaela's shocked face at his choice of expression, "but that's all drivin' me crazy... Anyway, this so-called doctor's simply vanished three weeks ago. Probably's found somethin' better in a fancy city. Few weeks ago Charlie's written that he was pissed at the doctor. Owed Charlie some money for gamblin'. As I know now nobody's there on that godforsaken place ta patch 'im up. Damn, the fella's dyin' on me..."
Hank was completely agitated. Neither Sully nor Michaela had ever seen Hank like this. Were they hearing voices or was this man really capable of having and expressing feelings for another human being?
"What are ya sayin', Michaela? I know it's a bunch to ask, but can ya come with me? Maybe ya can still do somethin' for 'im. He's not dead yet... Please, Michaela! I never asked ya for anythin', but now I'm doin' it! Will ya try to save my friend?"
The intensity of Hank's imploring eyes told Michaela and Sully that the situation was indeed very serious; that Hank was honestly deeply concerned about a dying friend. That alone was enough for Michaela. Whenever Hank forgot his pride in order to ask something of her it must be important to him. Of course, her empathy and the Hippocratic oath alone would have made her move heaven and earth to get to an untreated man who most probably agonizingly suffered from his deadly injury.
Michaela looked at her husband questioningly. "What do you think?"
Sully had come to the same conclusion. "Course, ya haveta go. Ya're needed there more than here now. But ya won't be able ta ride on a horse," he noted with a side-glance on her belly. Then he resolutely acclaimed. "I'll accompany ya two. Hank, this way, it'll take us a little longer, but we haveta take the wagon for Michaela's sake. If we leave in about two hours we'll be in Manitou by tomorrow mornin'. I hope it won't be too late for your friend."
Hank nodded in the affirmative. Obviously troubled, he turned to the couple. "Thanks. This really means a lot ta me... Well, then, I'll get goin' ta pack up a few things."
---------------
Manitou, Colorado
Michaela and Sully also spent the next hour with preparations for their last minute journey. After friends and patients had been informed, the most necessary things had been packed and Katie and Brian had been handed into Matthew's care, the threesome were on their way. The roads turned out extremely unwieldy especially for Michaela whose stomach sickness violently returned with the rattling and swinging of the wagon. For hours, Sully and Michaela rode on the rocking wagon while Hank rode mostly in silence alongside. After a very short night, which the trio had uncomfortably spent on a campfire at the roadside, they finally arrived at Manitou early in the morning.
The town was smaller than Colorado Springs and had the rough charm of a place Michaela's mother Elizabeth would disapprovingly call a 'true backwoods town'. There was some kind of a main street and several houses gathered around it. Among them the newcomers could recognize a store, a blacksmith and a horse stable, a banker's building, a saloon from which loud laughter and piano music emanated, even an undertaker's shop and several smaller houses.
Hank immediately dismounted his horse to interrogate passers-by on the street about the whereabouts of his friend. Soon, relieved looking, he energetically came back to Sully and Michaela.
"He's still alive! They brought him ta the doc's former practice over there to die... Oh well, anyway, he's inside that buildin'."
He pointed to a small, but relatively new building to his right that still bore a brass sign next to its door with the inscription 'Dr. Lucas Smith. M.D.'.
Straight away, Michaela nimbly hopped down from the wagon, took her medical bag and let the men look after the horses and wagon. Now it was a matter of life and death! Hank, however, was close on her heels.
Hurriedly, she stepped into the abandoned doctor's practice. In a dimly lit hall, she almost ran into a relatively young, dark-haired 'lady' who – judging her attire and low-cut collar at this time of day – at nights surely pursued her business of entertaining Manitou City's men.
The woman looked startled at Michaela but she soon gained countenance when she saw Hank who she appeared to know.
"Hank!", she exclaimed, "Good that ya made it "
"Lucy," Hank acknowledged. "How's he doin'? Where is he?"
Unmistakably, Lucy had looked after the injured Charlie as she was carrying bloody linen cloths in her hands as proof. With her thumb, she indicated at the next room on her right.
"In there. The fella's not too good... I doubt that he'll make it too long," she added only moderately sadly.
Nevertheless, Hank introduced her to Michaela. "This here's Dr. Michaela Quinn. She's the finest doctor in the territory. I've 'specially brought her that she can look after Charlie."
Michaela, who had become quite pink under this unusual praise, quickly changed the subject while she hurriedly proceeded to the adjoining room. Opening the door, she still heard an admiring 'a 'real' doctor?' whispered but didn't pay much attention to that any more as she turned her whole concentration on the patient.
She saw at once that Charlie had been shot into his thigh. In itself, with an immediate operation, the wound would not have been fatal as no major artery had been dripped. What's more, relatively little blood had been shed. But in the absence of doctor, the bullet had already been in there for two whole day and this caused the dangerous blood poisoning Michaela had to diagnose now.
"How has this happened?", Michaela asked Lucy who meanwhile stood next to Hank and Sully in the small room and had quietly observed the doctor.
"Oh," she answered rather indifferently. "Charlie tried ta meddle with a married woman and her husband had a little bit ta say against that. There's been a huge quarrel and suddenly there was a big shooting. Charlie here came up as the loser."
Michaela unbelievingly shook her head. In which primitive way things were still settled here? Nevertheless, she ceaselessly worked during the next hours to save Charlie's life. With Sully's and Hank's assistance, she removed the bullet and tried to bring down the patient's fewer with the medicine Dr. Smith had left here.
When afternoon approached the doctor in her was finally satisfied. Charlie bent to the treatment and finally showed quite clear signs of an improvement, so that Michaela could happily report to Hank that his friend most probably wouldn't die. This brought her a short, fervent embrace by Hank, before he disappeared in the adjoining room to see his friend who, meanwhile, began to gain consciousness again.
Some time later, they made sure that the patient was provided with everything he needed and Hank paid Lucy some money so that the saloon girl would take care after Charlie for one more day. Seemingly relieved, the bartender asked Michaela and Sully to follow him, as he wanted to show them their lodging for the night.
Still, Hank hadn't provided an explanation why he had been so worried about his friend Charlie and so keen on restoring his health. Sully and Michaela hadn't asked, as Hank should be the one to set things straight and it wasn't really their business. But puzzled and surprised they were at his behavior, indeed.
The three crossed the main street which by now was even more dusty because of the intense heat until Hank finally stopped in front of a quite big building, which Michaela, growing distraught, immediately recognized as a saloon. Her horror even widened when Hank good-naturedly pointed his thumb at the house and announced. "Here ya go. Your accommodations."
"In 'there'?", Michaela snarled at him. "In there we shall sleep tonight? In a 'saloon'?", she asked unbelievingly and as to her confirmation, loud piano music rose from behind the swinging doors.
Hank amusedly looked at Michaela and also at Sully who felt slightly unwell. He acted as if her words offended him, however, answered with a diabolical sparkle in his eyes.
"Um, ain't I told ya this? Charlie owns this saloon here. This is why we're knowin' each other in the first place. As I said, Carlie's a real old friend 'o mine. We started business around the same time. Years ago, we're always stickin' together tryin' ta figure out how that business works. I think that brings two people close and furthermore I owe him as he helped me out with some little credits in my early years. His saloon here's real famous, so ta say. And why did ya think a girl like Lucy would otherwise look after him? In any case, ya saved Charlie's life and he wouldn't have it any other than for ya two to get the best room. Plus, there ain't many other possibilities, are there?" Hank looked around the sleepy town. "There ain't one single hotel, Charlie's got the only free room in the doctor's practice and I don't think ya wanna sleep at the horse stable over there, will ya? What do ya think now?"
With every second that passed Michaela had become angrier and more furious at Hank. Did this guy really believe she, as a lady, had the wish to sleep in this 'brothel'?
However, they also had to consider their options, which, unfortunately, were not many. Sighing, she came to the conclusion that they had no other choice.
She inquiringly looked into Sully's eyes. He only shrugged his shoulders and exclaimed. "Better than no roof over our heads at all." With that, the decision was made and Michaela reluctantly submitted to the situation, which obviously made Hank quite happy.
Therefore, the trio entered the smoky, loud saloon and Michaela and Sully waited patiently while Hank made arrangements with the responsible barkeeper. As the couple tried to stay a little aside from all the buzzing around them a dark-haired prostitute gazed at Sully and Hank with blatant insinuating and unequivocal looks. She had draped some kind of feather boa around her shoulders so that at least some parts her goods remained concealed. Finally, gracefully grinning and with provocative movements she came up to Sully and started tickling his chin with her boa. Too taken by surprise was Sully to react in time.
This, again, was too much for Michaela and she furiously stepped on Sully's side where he automatically laid a hand on her waist and shooed away the tickling sensation with his other hand. Unnerved, the prostitute blew some hairs off her face, however understood the subtle sign immediately and, sulking, contorted to her waiting guests.
However, the present male guests also very soon became attentive to the newcomers. More and more, often unkempt, heads turned around into Michaela's direction and bestowed her with admiring whistles and leering shouts.
One exclaimed loudly from the corner in which he sat. "Hey, lass! Ya new here?"
While another one whispered enthusiastically. "Pretty little thing, ain't she? Not cheap I bet!"
This alone was enough to let Michaela turn dark red and to cause Sully to position himself protectively in front of his wife but then one of the present scoundrels hit the target. "Hey sweetie. Have ya brought yaself two johns at once, hm? Wishin' ya three a lot of fun!"
Fortunately, Hank was meanwhile finished with the arrangements and winked them to go upstairs. Therefore, Michaela and Sully decided to ignore the infidels and disappear in a great hurry. However, when they wanted to pass the guests, an especially sharp observer answered this last remark with a look at Michaela's slightly extended belly, which defined itself a little under the narrow riding costume. "Seems ta me like they already had the fun."
The men broke out in laughter and Michaela's head couldn't probably have become any redder. However, Sully made sure that she didn't jump on the guys' necks while he silently steered her up the stairs with a protecting hand on her back. But Michaela had never in her life been as embarrassed as at this moment.
"I could just go and throttle them all!", she exclaimed almost close to tears.
However, one look at Hanks grinning face was enough to convert this feeling of shame into a quick-tempered murdering desire.
Interpreting Michaela's toxic glances, Hank laughing lifted his hands in surrender but also as a protection in front of his face as if he wanted to prepare for her jumping at his throat any minute.
Exactly that Michaela had in mind as a possibility. But then she recollected her good manners her mother had so painstakingly forced on her. In addition, she realized that she'd have no chance to straighten something out with this mountain of a man. Thus, she asked completely matter-of-factly, chilly, in her most majestic New-England-voice. "Where, please, are our rooms?"
Grinning, Hank showed them the way. "This here. Biggest and nicest room in 'ere. I'll just be next door..."
Without a word, Michaela took the keys from Hank and when she and Sully had stepped into the room, she slammed the door into Hank's face.
Hank, for a second, just dumbfounded stood there. Then he threw back his long mane and roared at the top of his voice. This practical joke had really been worth it. How long had he wished for a chance like that. To finally get Doctor Michaela Quinn into a compromising situation and being able to watch the outcome. Women! She would soon calm down again.
------------
Manitou, Misty Mountain Saloon
Sully was lying quietly on the bed and curiously inspected the place while Michaela, only covered by a light sheet, rummaged around in the room. Their lodging was unexpectedly bright and generously equipped. Through the high windows, which were covered only by a light curtain, the strong late midday sun flowed in. A big mirror let the room appear almost twice as big and over the gigantic bed was draped a huge lace curtain. Sully, smiling, could fathom only too well what ordinarily happened in this room and he was sure that his wife was also clearly aware of that and flustered by it. He would never admit this indeed, but privately Sully had also had his fun in his wife's antics. No, it hadn't amused him that she had been put out to those salacious remarks but he had nearly laughed out loud as Michaela had combatively stood up to Hank. The fire in her eyes had flashed! Sully somehow liked it when she became furious. Those times she always got red spots on her cheeks and he found her even prettier. On the other hand, he knew her and he knew that she wasn't always as prim and proper as she presented herself to the outside world.
Now, after half an hour of rest she began looking through the contents of her travel bags, clad only in a light linen cloth. Her skin shone damply because she had just cleaned herself up on the washing bowl in the center of the room.
Also Sully wasn't wearing anything. In this scorching heat every stitch of cloth on the body was a sheer torture! Mildly irritated, Michaela was now kneeling on the floor and looked up at Sully. He could tell she was still angry at Hank but that, fortunately, didn't enclose 'himself', did it?
"Sully, didn't we pack some towels?"
Sully replied. "No, sorry. I didn't. If ya ain't taken them... I didn't think of it."
Michaela quietly sighed and a little frustrated walked to the door in order to look whether there was anybody on the landing she could maybe ask for help. Carefully, she extended her head out onto the hall. A blonde woman took notice of her straight away and grinned when she saw that Michaela was only wrapped in a bed sheet up to her chin. The woman was older than Lucy but her hair was fixed even more extravagantly, her face was made up even more flamboyantly and her cleavage even went a little deeper.
In an unmistakable southern accent she provocatively asked. "Well, well missy. How are ya doing? We don't get to see something like you very often here in this lousy town. Did you even bring in your own clientele," she noted with a curious side-glance into the room.
"Then be careful to look after that splendid guy in there. Exclusively, if you understand my meaning! The other girls don't like it when such a nice little thing like you hooks up with all the guys left downstairs. Ruins their business."
Michaela winced when she heard amused laughter behind her. Hank was standing on the other side of the landing, a cigar in his mouth, overhearing everything! Michaela's blood boiled once more and she impolitely smashed, towel or no towel, the door in the startled blonde's face.
Sully who had been able to understand only fragments of this exchange jumped in the bed when the door was slammed once more. Questioningly and almost a little cynically, he looked at Michaela whose well-shaped figure energetically moved towards him.
"What was 'that'?", he asked, grinning boyishly.
However, Michaela wasn't in the mood to talk anymore. Today, she had already endured enough humiliations. She was fed up. Resolutely, she decided to keep some 'secrets' to herself and to act as if nothing had happened. Instead, she positioned herself in full stature in front of his bed, swung her hips gracefully and asked, challenging, with a slightly upraised head. "Is there space for me as well or do you want to have the whole bed for yourself?"
Sully reacted in quickly flashing out a hand to place it courageously on her bottom. Then he applied just as much pressure that she was forced to move against him if she didn't want to lose her balance. Halfway there, Sully took his other hand for help and Michaela fell involuntarily, laughing, on his lap. There she was greeted with whispered 'Here's some space' and a kiss which stole her breath away.
"Have I already told ya today how proud I'm of ya?... How ya saved that man's life... Ya have a gift. Ya amaze me over and over again."
Slightly blushing over his compliment, Michaela looked to the floor, for once being incapable to answer. Then his blue eyes magically drew in her gaze and she shyly raised her hand to lay it flatly on his chest. With his fingertips he traveled over her damp shoulders and then let his hand rest on her neck. In fact, it had only been a day that they both hadn't been able touch each other in this way, but to Michaela it had seemed like almost a week.
Even she, the always proper lady, had nearly given into the seduction to secretly insult Hank with curses as the barkeep had prevented any yet so innocent touch between her and Sully, with a remark, a sardonic grin or even a warning whistle at their campfire the night before.
Also Sully shared her thoughts and obviously planned other things at the moment than to talk to Michaela about her incidence with the prostitute. Too long ago their last real encounter seemed. Michaela felt his hot breath on her neck and she began to shake even before he buried his head in her hair to inhale her scent. Slowly and passionately, he kissed her collarbone, allowed the tip of his tongue to sensually glide higher on her neck and her chin, until he arrived at her mouth. There, Michaela opened her lips for his penetrating tongue only too fervently. With those few, gentle kisses and passionate touches Sully had accomplished once more in mere seconds that Michaela's stomach contracted in excitement, her heart thumped like mad and she had the feeling of butterflies in her belly. She also already felt the prompt proof that Sully felt just the same.
Shyly, she smiled up at him. "What, here?"
Sully laughed and before she could protest, positioned Michaela around so that her legs straddled his hips. This movement brought the light cloth to slide down from her shoulders to her waist, which was appreciated by Sully with nothing less than an admiring gaze. He answered with a heavy voice. "Yeah here where everyone expects us ta do it anyways. After all, we wouldn't wanna disappoint our new friends, would we?"
His eyes had shone amusedly with these last words but Michaela didn't notice that he joked with her. "Sully!", she exclaimed half shattered, half laughing.
However, he prevented any other remark with his mouth and his searching tongue. Then he looked at her again and whispered. "No, seriously. I want to be with you! Always and anywhere. S'just some silly coincidence that we're kind of stranded in here."
His look rested burningly on her. His eyes, darkened by passion, just like liquid steel. Beguilingly, he drove his fingertips after the humid contours of her lips. Then he allowed his hands to glide leisurely downwards to at last capture her behind with them. Provocatively, he moved his hips dangerously close to hers and whispered roughly. "Say it! Tell me that ya also want it!"
Michaela had lost all control of her thinking. Like Sully, she wanted only one thing. Automatically, she answered with a dry voice. "I... I want you to make love to me... Now."...
---------------
Manitou, Misty Mountain Saloon
At the same time, in spite of the deadly heat, Hank was lying fully clothed, outstretched on his bed. Cigar in his mouth, hands crossed behind his head and legs carelessly put up on the sheets. While he blew rings of smoke in the air and listened to the unmistakable noises emanating from the rooms next door and down the hall, he reflected on how much he loved the life in those saloons! Something was always going on. He constantly had fun and the people who attended the saloons were always in a good mood. And he, Hank, was never alone and impelled to think about what he was lacking in his own life.
Hank almost started when he suddenly heard laughter from the adjoining room. Male laughter that Hank suddenly recognized with a blow. Never ever would he have bet on hearing that laughter one day in such a playful mood. And certainly not in a place like this! Hank threw back his head and laughed at the top of his voice when he finally came to the full realization, from which room the noises came that considerably contributed to the general noise level. And this at light bright day! Didn't those two know how thin the walls in these etablissements were in order to have lower costs?
"I knew the woman has fire!", Hank murmured only for his own benefit.
Curiously and absolutely shamelessly, Hank tried to eavesdrop. He would never have waged a penny on the chance of ever experiencing this! Hank listened concentrated. The noises from the adjoining room differed subtly, however, clearly from all that other jerky bed-squeaking motions that mostly lasted mere five minutes. They were deeper, sensuous somehow and at the same time gentle, passionate, however, also more primitive as if two souls, who had been separated, desperately tried to become one again. Quite unexpectedly, this thought caused a painful sting in Hank. He knew he could never let somebody get so close to him that he could ever feel so deeply for anyone.
However, quickly, he banned this idea from his head. What did he understand about mawkishness? Indifferently again, he shrugged his shoulders, brought his hat over his eyes and still grinning slowly sank into a peaceful slumber.
---------------
Manitou, Misty Mountain Saloon
At the same evening, Hank sat at the poker table at a game of cards, while he observed Sully and Michaela finding their way back from the medical practice hand in hand. Michaela had examined Charlie again who was very much improved. Hank himself had visited with his friend some hours ago and had been able to ascertain how much better his friend already was. He would be grateful forever that Michaela had been able to save Charlie's life.
Although he would never admit this, the last days had gotten under Hank's skin. He had only told parts of the truth when he had revealed his connection to Charlie, who's Christian name was actually Karl Lindberg. Part of the reason was, that he refused to let people know that he could actually care for another human being. Charlie and he had known each other for a long time. Both had made their way to success in this tough world. Another part was that he truly owed Charlie something. The friend had been the only one Hank could trust in, even telling him of his son Zach. And it had been Charlie who always understood Hank's soft spot for his son even lending him some amount of the money needed for Zach's art school. Hank never forgot that. And he'd never forget that Michaela had without hesitation answered his plea.
Right now, Michaela and Sully entered the smoky rooms of the saloon and struggled their way around the amount of tables and people to go upwards. During this short time, their hands had barely let go of each other as they both appeared to feel the constant need to touch consistently.
Hank's poker opponent, an old, graying, almost toothless man, who truthfully was as ugly as sin, poked him in the ribs when he looked at the couple, almost a little envious. "Saw that beauty? Prettiest girl in 'ere. But the lass wouldn't even give us the time of the day. Always goin' upstairs with the same young guy. If I were only twenty years younger..."
"...ya'd also have no chance with her. So stop dreamin'," Hank finished with a diabolical grin giving out a new set of cards. "Come on, 'ol geezer. I'll soon be goin' back home and until that I plan take ya ta the cleaners..."
